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FAITH IN THE WORKPLACE – a policeman

In the second of the Lenten series of talks Sir Trefor Morris CBE QPM, former HM Inspector of Constabularies refers to Ellison Enquiry to undercover policing and Plebgate in his reflection.

He said, “Last autumn I agreed to speak on this topic to Brecon Rural Deanery. A friend who was to attend the dinner said he thought the title I had chosen vis. “A Christian Policeman” was a contradiction in terms.

Like all professions and vocations we all suffer from stereotyping and collective assessments– just look at the Census form and it is not new, 2000 years ago, the Synoptic Gospels illustrate the assessments of people according to pre-conceived notions—Pharisees, tax collectors etc. yet Jesus chose as his immediate disciples a most unlikely bunch by looking at them as individuals.

Sir Trefor as HM Inspector of Constabularies

In assessing police officers, psychologists and behaviourists paint a picture of macho authoritarian people who enjoy exercising power and control over their fellow human beings, have little or no sense of humour and are set apart from the rest of Society. It is small wonder given that basic image was generally portrayed in literature and the performing arts– television radio and films. If you cast your mind back to the 60’s (if you can)—Z cars and ‘Softly, Softly’ underlined the image but since then on this very fertile ground, the story has been very much modified to include all the warts of life with unstable relationships – drink, drugs and rock and roll – and hardly surprisingly various forms of corruption.

Bearing in mind that I retired from my active policing role as HMCIC in Sept 1996 after 40 and a half years service, I can claim some detachment from the present acrimony being poured on the Service, particularly by journalists and M.P.s – those pillars of integrity and honesty. The recent ‘Mitchellgate Saga’, in the Autumn, which frankly has to rank as the most idiotic nonsense from beginning to end, gathered momentum from a clash of ego’s, was added too by a lack of wisdom, hasty judgement and inexplicable behaviour by a police officer and escalated into a tide of criticism sweeping over the 130,000 police officers in the Country.

Sir Trefor explains the Jesse Tree to the Bishop of the Highveld

If that was not enough, we now have the re-emergence of the Stephen Lawrence case with all of the ramifications that has for the Metropolitan Police, and by implication the whole of the police service. I do not think it appropriate to leap to judgement on what has been done or not done ahead of the Enquiry that is to take place. I fear however there has been something badly amiss, but I would observe that the harshest critics of police wrongdoing are police officers themselves. I can say that with certainty having carried out many investigations in my own and other police forces. I must also say that this further tide of criticism of all police officers across the country dismays me greatly, is unwarranted and counterproductive.

I suppose my first reflection is that the job of policing is a very dangerous task and not just because there are inherent physical dangers in enforcing the law across the criminal community of all stripes, but also because of the diminishing support of the law abiding community who do not recognise that first defined duty of a police officer is the protection of life and property.

Let me turn to the heading of being a policeman who happens to be a Christian. That too is dangerous territory. You may well remember Tony Blair being prevented by Alistair Campbell from discussing his Christian faith and Campbell in his own inimitable way saying “We don’t do God”. Blair said afterwards that “ people would think I was a nutter”.

I was baptised and confirmed into the Anglican Church and like many practising Christians have had periods of doubt, questioning and uncertainty but for many years now have grown and developed a sustaining faith. I was being provocative in setting the headline for this speech, for in truth although I am very overtly involved in the Church in Abergavenny and am an unashamed Christian I think that I serve better keeping my faith as a personal matter. If someone wishes to discuss the issue – then fine– but I avoid the temptation to proselytise to the uninterested. For here lies the danger. Jim Anderton was Chief Constable of GMP, I was one of his assistant Chief Constables for just over 3 years. He was an influential member of the Christian Police Association, heavy with evangelism bordering on militancy.—He could get carried away. Press, having welcomed him as an open communicator, turned and portrayed him as “God’s Cop”.

Jim was a good man, a good Chief Constable, but found that he had created an image that had its own momentum. It was bolstered by many letters from a section of the public. But there were drawbacks, an illustration of this later in his career, was a conference on AIDS when he said homosexuals are in a swirling pit of hell of their own creation.

Given also the propensity of even former ministers of religion to behave rather badly (Coop Bank) and the bad publicity which surrounds other issues in our Church related to Women Bishops and storms in the Llandaff Choir teacup it seems equally perilous to be seen as an active Christian and a former policeman. If we add to that the attacks on Christians by Richard Dawkins and the militant tendency of secularists and the gleeful promulgation of his ideas by newspapers, radio and television, I am starting to have sympathy with Victor Meldrew.

I have tried to provide a perspective on the reality of my experience in my chosen profession that often gives rise to scepticism, which is understandable and on occasion cynicism, which is harmful. I can honestly say that I have been sustained by my Christian Faith during difficult and trying times and am convinced that listening to God in prayer gives meaning to my life. ”

NEXT SUNDAY we hear from Nick Ramsay AM. The talks are part of the 6pm Evensong at St Mary’s Priory Church.